Support for utensils and napkin holder

ABSTRACT

A support for utensils and napkins. This support has three sections with each able to hold at least one utensil without touching the eating surface. The individual sections are connected to each other along the long sides. There are two support walls attached at the outer ends. All three sections are raised from the surface resulting in no contact with dirty or wet surfaces. The side walls are angled slightly outward for easy gripping and to better support the stacking of devices. The napkin section is below the utensil sections. The device will have two basic product sizes, one for an individual user with single sized utensil holder and one to hold utensils for many people. The device can be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, or Styrofoam. When the device is made from glass or plastic, it can be made re-usable and dishwasher safe.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of support utensils and napkins and, more particularly, keeping the utensils from coming in contact with surfaces that are not clean.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is much emphasis on maintaining a clean and healthy eating environment. Unfortunately, people often put their eating utensils down on tables assuming the surface is clean and free of bacteria. Some people eat in nontraditional places, without tables, including cars, buses, and trains. They might eat at a picnic or eat in bed. In these environments there are usually no flat places to put anything down. If the utensils are put in a uneven plate they will slide off, or placed in an unleveled cup they will tip over. Many times these untraditional places cause drinks to spill, food to fall, and utensils to get dirty. A good intentioned relaxing meal can becomes massy and unhygenic, even one you soon try to forget.

The traditional dining places usually have tables that are flat, level, unclean and full of germs. This includes all types of restaurants, fast food places, diners, picnic tables, kitchen tables, cafeterias, and schools. In these environments there exist several potentially unsanitary factors that make it unwise to place utensils directly on a table. The cause of greatest concern is the spreading of bacteria, which, for obvious reasons, poses health concerns. Eating with utensils that are contaminated with germs can spread sickness. This contamination can be caused by several factors. The person that cleans these tables could unknowingly be carrying germs, or the rag used to wipe the table might be unclean and leave germs or residue on the table. The table may not even be cleaned from the prior usage. The issue of an unclean table poses a predicament to all those concerned with sanitary conditions.

There are solutions available for keeping the utensils clean by using items on the table, but none are really satisfactory. First, you can place the utensils on an additional napkin. Unfortunately, the napkin merely absorbs any remaining bacteria or liquid, bringing the utensils in contact with unwanted germs. Second, utensils can be placed on an extra plate. However, most eating establishments do not have the extra space on the table or the available extra plates. Additionally, most people would resist using an extra plate due to inappropriate etiquette. Currently a majority of fast food restaurants are not providing plates; rather the customer is supplied with a plastic container barely large enough to hold the food itself.

Another available solution is putting the utensils in an extra cup. This method is awkward and the cup can easily topple, especially if the cup is lightweight and the utensils are not balanced. Additionally, this would require extra cups for every person, significantly reducing the available table space. There is also the issue of table etiquette, as previously mentioned in the extra plate solution.

A fourth solution is to place the eating end of each utensil on the plate. When this is done, the holding end of the utensil comes in contact with the unclean surface, which is still an unsanitary condition. Placing the entire utensil across the plate creates different issues: insufficient room on the plate for food and utensils, food covering the utensil and making it dirty, and, when in a restaurant, the possibility of mistakenly signaling the waiter to remove the plate entirely.

There is a need to create a utensil support that will keep utensils and napkins clean before and during a meal. Furthermore, it must be easy to use, readily accessible, easy to clean or be disposable, and provide support of utensils on a flat or unleveled surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,328, issued to Anson L. Hall, titled ‘Support for Eating Utensils’, dated May 30, 1989, describes a raised central support having one or more transversely spaced apertures in the central support portion. The apertures are used for receiving and supporting the eating end of a spoon, the blade end of a knife, and the eating end of a fork. This support requires assembly and is made of a rigid sheet cardboard material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,199, issued to Anson L. Hall, titled ‘Support for Eating Utensils’, dated Jul. 10, 1990, describes a support of cardboard material which has front and rear edges that extend upwardly and rearwards. Only the eating portion of the spoon and/or fork are raised, as well as the blade portion of a knife. This support requires assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,141, issued to H. Dean Bounds, titled ‘Eating Utensil Support’, dated May 2, 1995, describes a support for elevating eating utensils above the surface of a table. This support is constructed from a single sheet of paper and assembly is required. A plurality of receptacles is provided to support the eating ends of each utensil.

Patent solutions U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,834,328, 4,940,199, and 5,411,141 require assembly prior to usage and creates extra work when preparing for a meal.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,199 only holds two utensils. This would be inadequate for all types of meals.

The prior patent solutions only elevates the eating ends of the utensils. This will protect against some of the concerns for germs and bacteria, however, the holding section of a utensil can still transport bacteria to your hands.

The prior patent solutions have no provisions for keeping a napkin off the eating surface.

The prior patent solutions offer limited protection from a wet surface. They are made of porous materials that will absorb any wet liquid or food and the germs that they carry.

The prior patent solutions do not have a configuration or variation of their invention that can be made re-usable or even dishwasher safe.

The prior patent solutions appear to hold utensils only on a flat surface, not an unleveled surface. If the surface was uneven or slightly tilted the prior solutions would be ineffective in holding utensils.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a support for utensils and napkins, keeping the entire utensil and napkin off the eating surface, both before and during a meal.

It is another object of this invention to provide a convenient section holder for easy placement and removal of utensils and napkins during eating.

It is another object of the invention to make the device economical to manufacture, not require assembly for usage, be durable and re-useable.

It is another object of the invention to build the device so it can hold utensils on flat or angled surfaces.

It is another object of the invention to provide space for customized letters or designs on the supporting side walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a support for utensils and napkins. This support has three sections with each able to hold at least one utensil without touching the eating surface. The individual sections are connected to each other along the long sides. There are two support walls attached at the outer ends. All three sections are raised from the surface resulting in no contact with dirty or wet surfaces. The side walls are angled slightly outward for easy gripping and to better support the stacking of devices. The napkin section is below the utensil sections, it consists of a flat panel connected to the outer sides. The device will have two basic product sizes, one for an individual user with single sized utensil holders and one to hold utensils for many people. The device can be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, or Styrofoam. When the device is made from glass or plastic, it can be made re-usable and dishwasher safe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of an utensil and napkin holder. This view shows the three open sections and the napkin holder. All are elevated from the surface;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an individual support device. This view illustrates the elevation of the three sections and napkin section from the surface. Additionally, the angled side panels can be easily seen from this view; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of a support for utensils and napkin holder. This view shows the interior of the utensil holders.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the FIGURES.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the utensil holder. This view shows the three utensil sections 10. These individual sections are connected at their ends to the two side walls 12. Utensils are placed inside these sections.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the individual support device. This view shows the three utensil sections 10 and the napkin holder and how they are raised from the surface. Additionally, the angled side panels can be seen from this view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the support for utensils and napkin holder. The napkin holder sections consists of a flat panel 14 connected to the side walls 12 below the utensil sections 10.

The device will be manufactured in several sizes. The smaller sizes are individual utensil holders, the larger sizes will be used to hold utensils for several settings. The napkin holder will hold a greater amount of napkins in the larger sized units.

The individual sized utensil holder has ample room to hold one utensil per section. Since eating utensils are made in different lengths, this utensil holder will also be made in several lengths.

The larger utensil holder will have the utensil sections 10 deeper and wider then the individual unit. Also the larger units will be made in several lengths.

The side walls 12 will be as low as ½ inch above the utensil sections 10 and up to several inches above. The exact height of the side walls 12 can be customized.

The contour or shape of the individual sections is not limited to the half hollow cylinder shape in the drawings, but can be the shape of a half pipe or a ‘U’, or any combination of round and bend edges, or any shape that holds utensils.

As shown in the figures, all the utensil sections 10 will be the same depth, length and shape for a specific utensil and napkin holder.

The length of the individual sections can be made short enough to hold small plastic or wooden ice cream spoons, or long enough to hold utensils used for barbeque grilling. The larger said device will be made wide enough for about 20 utensils in each section.

The thickness of the utensil sections 10 and side walls 12 can vary, depending on the expected weight it will carry, and the amount of usage required. For the one time usage or throw away units, the thickness will be as minimal as possible to maintain the rigidity necessary to maintain the form and keep the sections elevated above the table surface. Another embodiment for the said device will be a reusable model which will be as thick as regular dishes, made dishwasher safe and manufactured for long term durability.

The said device can be made in any color, or clear. The side walls 12 are transparent or blank and can be made into an eye catcher to place advertising. There is space on the side walls 12 for stickers, imprints, or engraving. Additionally, advertising on this device will allow easy recognition of thoughtful companies and health conscience food serving establishments.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims. 

1. A support for utensils and napkin holder for holding utensils and napkins away from a surface before and during a meal to keep them clean comprising: means for holding utensils away from a table surface before and during a meal, there are three of these sections; means for keeping the utensils sections intact, and also to keep a space between the eating surface and the utensil holding sections; and means for holding the napkins away from the surface.
 2. The support for utensils and napkin holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for holding utensils away from a table surface before and during a meal, there are three of these sections comprises an utensil sections.
 3. The support for utensils and napkin holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for keeping the utensils sections intact, and also to keep a space between the eating surface and the utensil holding sections comprises a side walls.
 4. The support for utensils and napkin holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for holding the napkins away from the surface comprises a flat panel.
 5. A support for utensils and napkin holder for holding utensils and napkins away from a surface before and during a meal to keep them clean comprising: an utensil sections, for holding utensils away from a table surface before and during a meal, there are three of these sections; a side walls, for keeping the utensils sections intact, and also to keep a space between the eating surface and the utensil holding sections; and a flat panel, for holding the napkins away from the surface.
 6. A support for utensils and napkin holder for holding utensils and napkins away from a surface before and during a meal to keep them clean comprising: an utensil sections, for holding utensils away from a table surface before and during a meal, there are three of these sections; a side walls, for keeping the utensils sections intact, and also to keep a space between the eating surface and the utensil holding sections; and a flat panel, for holding the napkins away from the surface. 